Environmental stewardship and economic empowerment
Ghana’s fisheries have suffered significant degradation in recent decades due to overfishing, illegal fishing, climate change, habitat destruction and pollution. This has led to a sharp decline in fish stocks, threatening biodiversity but also the livelihoods of approximately 10% of the country’s workforce. Artisanal fishers, fish processors, traders and their dependents, particularly in the Western Region, face increasing economic hardship.
While Ghana’s first Marine Protective Area (MPA) in the Greater Cape Three Points Area (GCTPA) offers an opportunity for ecological restoration, there is a risk that, without inclusive planning, it could restrict access to resources vital for local livelihoods. The project addresses this by balancing ecological restoration with sustainable livelihood alternatives through a gender-responsive, community-led conservation approach.
By encouraging environmental stewardship and economic empowerment, the project is simultaneously working towards better marine protection, strengthening coastal resilience and improving community well-being. Activities include restoring 10 hectares of degraded mangroves, establishing three nurseries for 50,000 seedlings, and enhancing fish nursery habitats. Educational campaigns will build local and regional support for MPA management while promoting ecotourism, fisheries value chain development, and financial literacy, with targeted support for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
The project will directly benefit 1,500 people in seven coastal communities indirectly impact 4,800 others and reach 78,000 people through awareness campaigns, contributing to long-term sustainability of Ghana’s first MPA.
Photo credit: Hen Mpoano
